MHA Today | December 13, 2024

Staff Contact: Dave Dillon

MHA’s mission is to ensure Missouri hospitals have the support, resources and data-driven insights needed to fulfill their missions — now and in the future. Each year, MHA publishes an annual Report of Accomplishments to demonstrate how our work helps hospitals better care for and serve their communities.

This year’s report summarizes advocacy efforts that help hospitals thrive, opportunities to advance and promote patient-centered care, and strategies for hospitals to champion innovation and improve the health of all Missourians. Read the 2024 MHA Report of Accomplishments.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission posted materials from meetings earlier this week regarding hospital profitability, Medicare beneficiary access to care and rate proposals for 2026. Due to poor margins for caring for Medicare patients, MedPAC stated that hospitals and physicians deserve higher Medicare payments to preserve access to care. Highlights include the following.

• IPPS hospital Medicare margins are projected to decline from 2022 to negative 13%.
• Inpatient rehabilitation facility PPS Medicare margins remain high with hospital-based IRFs earning 1% profit for caring for Medicare beneficiaries.
• SNF PPS Medicare margins remain high.
  • MedPAC has not adopted a position about the SNF minimum staffing requirements effective May 2026.
• MedPAC recommends the full market-basket payment plus 1% for 2026.
• MedPAC recommends that physicians receive an increase equal to the Medicare Economic Index minus 1%.
• The commission commented that the inflation impact has moderated for physicians.
• MedPAC reviewed a report about the rural emergency hospital program.
  • 21 hospitals have converted.
  • $10 million in Medicare outpatient payments were paid to REHs.
  • $30 million in Medicare fixed payments were paid to REHs.

Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade

MHD will provide webinar training from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, on the new Missouri Medicaid Notice of Pregnancy Portal, Pregnancy Risk Screening utility and new billing requirements of prenatal and postnatal care. Advance registration is required.

A recording of the training will be accessible after Jan. 7 on the Maternal and Infant Health program page. Questions regarding the new NOP and Risk Screening Portal can be emailed to MHD.